Crutches



Oct. 26, 1965 M. H. KlEHN 3,213,870

Filed Feb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M MJ/f (iii/I, B

Oct. 26, 1965 M. H. KIEHN 3,213,870

CRUTCHES Filed Feb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -I 1k "I INVENTOR UnitedStates Patent M 3,213,870 CRUTCHES Mogens H. Kiehn, Evanston, 111.,assignor to Kiehn Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Feb. 21, 1263, Ser. No. 260,234 4 Claims. (Cl. 135-49)This invention relates in general to walking aids for handicapped orotherwise disabled persons. It deals particularly with a crutchconstruct-ion.

It is not uncommon to see a handicapped person, making his or her wayabout on crutches. Crutches are well known and Widely used, and havebeen for centuries. Traditionally a crutch comprise an elongated,generally T-shaped structure which provides the user with a body supportand a hand support, the body support in the form of a short cross pieceplaced in the armpit of the user. (Two crutches might also be used, ofcourse.) An alternative to the foregoing construction, and presently awidely used crutch construction is found in the arm type crutch whichalso provides hand support but which braces against the forearm of theuser, in contrast to a body support, for example.

Presently known crutch constructions have common faults, however.Neither of the foregoing traditional crutch constructions elfectivelysupport the users torso in a comfortable manner so that he might walkusing minimal energy, for example. With the arm support constructionthis is readily evident, of course, since the arms carry the entireload. In the conventional armpit support type crutch there is usuallysuch a painful concentration of load at the armpit of the user that hetends to use his arms primarily to carry the great bulk of the load.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcrutch construction.

It is another object to provide a crutch construction which moreeffectively supports the user.

It is still another object to provide a crutch construction whichsupports the user in a relatively more comfortable manner.

It is a further object to provide a crutch construction which isutilized with a minimal drain on the users energy.

It is still a further object to provide a crutch construc tion of theaforedescribed character which is simple in construction and relativelyinexpensive.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accordance with thepresent invention by providing a revolutionary new crutch construction.The invention contemplates a crutch which supports the users framecomfortably at all times. The user readily moves about on hiscrutche(es) with a minimum of effort obtaining maximum torso support.Furthermore, the present crutch construction is adjustable to the frameof the user, whether male or female, to assure maximum supportregardless of the size or configuration of the user.

In one aspect of the present invention fluid torso support is providedby the crutch embodying features of the present invention. Accordingly,relative movement between the crutch and the user is accommodatedwithout diminishing support.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by re erence to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a man using crutches embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end of the crutchillustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the upper end of thecrutch illustrated in FIG. 2;

3,213,876 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 ice FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top planview of the crutch illustrated in FIGURES 1-3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the upper end of thecrutch embodying features of a modified form of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the upper end of thecrutch illustrated in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the crutch illustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1, a fullgrown man 10 is illustrated as he walks supported by a pair of crutches11 embodying features of the present invention. The crutches 11comfortably support the torso 12 of the user 10 while he moves about.The support is elfected in such a manner that the weight of the torso 12is advantageously distributed on the crutches 11 while minimal energy isrequired to walk. To accommodate variations in the size andconfiguration of the user 10, the crutches 11 are adjustable.Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, thecrutches 11 provide a fluid support which adapts itself to relativemovement between the crutches 11 and the user 10 as the user walks.

The crutches 11 are identical in construction, of course, one being themirror image of the other. Accordingly, only one crutch 11 is describedin detail, like components of the crutches 11 being identified bycorresponding reference numerals. Henceforth substantially allreferences will be to the crutch 11 associated with the right arm 15 ofthe user 10, however.

Still referring to FIGURE 1, the right hand crutch 11 comprises a leg 20carrying a body support assembly 21 at its upper end and a non-skidrubber boot 22 at its lower end. A conventional hand grip assembly 23 ismounted on the leg 20 at an appropriate position intermediate its ends,as indicated, for grasping in the hand 25 of the user 10.

The body support assembly 21 is adjustable according to the presentinvention to accommodate variations in the length and configuration ofthe users torso 12. Such accommodations in configuration might benecessary, for example, where the user is a woman rather than a man. Thebody support assembly 21 also provides fluid support of the torso 12according to the present invention. Accordingly, relative movementbetween the torso 12 and the crutch 11, a necessary result of walkingwith crutches, is accommodated without any diminishment in support bythe crutch 11.

The leg 20 of the crutch 11 is preferably fabricated in sections fromsturdy aluminum pipe stock, or the like. A lower section 30 istelescoped with an upper section 31 and is adjustably secured thereto bya conventional looking pin 32. The pin 32 extends through a singlemounting passage (unidentified) in the lower end of the upper section 31and is adapted to extend through one of a plurality of passages 33 inthe lower section 30. This arrangement facilitates lengthening andshortening the crutch 11 at will, of course, to accommodate users 10 ofvarying size.

The shoe 22 is preferably a rubber cup arrangement fashioned in aconventional manner and adapted to fit snug'ly over the lower section 30of the leg 20. It provides non-slip traction for the crutch 11 as thecrutch swings backwardly and forwardly in moving support of the user 10during his walking, for example. This construction is conventional, ofcourse, as is the length adjustability of the crutch length 20, and thedetails of these features form no specific part of the presentinvention.

The handle assembly 23 mounted on the upper section 31 of the leg 20 isgenerally conventional also, as would be expected. Accordingly, it isnot shown in detail. Suffice it to say that the handle assembly 23comprises a short tubular handle grip 35 secured to the upper section 31of the leg 20 by a machine screw (not shown) or the like extendingthrough the upper section 31. The handle assembly 23 is positioned at apredetermined distance below the body support assembly 22 to accommodatearms of varying length and accordingly different sized users. Thepositioning of the handle assembly 23 is not critical and might varysomewhat without detracting from the efiiciency of the crutch 11.

The body support assembly 21 includes an armpit support 40 and a torsosupport 41. As seen in FIGURE 1, the armpit support 40 supports the userat the joinder of his arm and torso 12 while the torso support 41provides direct support for the torso 12. The armpit support 40 is fixedon the upper end of the leg while the torso support 4-1 is adjustablefor vertical movement on the leg 20, as well as being mounted for fluidsupport of the torso 12.

Referring to FIGURES 24, the armpit support 40 is seen to comprise agenerally arcuate tubular member 45 secured to the upper end of the leg20. The member 45 is preferably fabricated of aluminum pipe stockcovered with rubber padding 46 or the like. The pipe (not shown) mightbe welded to theleg 20. As will be noted, the leading end 47 of themember 45 curves upwardly and inwardly about the torso 12 of the user10, while the trailing end 48 merely curves upwardly. The leading end 47is curved inwardly for twofold reasons. It provides a certain amount ofsupport to the torso 12 besides eliminating the protrudence which wouldordinarily be present if the leading end 47 extends straight forward.

The torso support 41 includes a segmentally cyclindrical member 50mounted for vertical adjustment as well as universal movement on the leg20 below the armpit sup port 40. Vertical adjustment of the torsosupport 40 of the leg 20 facilitates adjusting the crutch 11 tovariations in size and configuration in the torso 12 of the user 10.Universal movement of the member 50 perm-its the member to adapt itselfreadily to the movement of the user 10 as the crutch 11 is swungbackwardly and forwardly in walking support of the user. This assuressubstantially constant support of the torso 12 of the user 10 regardlessof the relative position of the crutch 11 and the torso 12.

The segmentally cylindrical member 50 includes a segmentally cylindricalplate 55 fabricated of a sturdy aluminium alloy or the like. The corners56 of the plate 55 are rounded to prevent the user from being injured bya sharp projection. A pad 57 of foam rubber or the like is secured tothe face 58 (see FIG. 4) of the plate 55 by any suitable means, such asgluing, to provide a padded support for the torso 12 of the user 10.

The plate 55 is connected to the upper section 31 of the leg 20, forvertical adjustment relative to the leg 20 and universal movementrelative thereto, on a mounting unit 59. The mounting unit 59 includes asocket member 60 rigidly secured to the inside of the leg 20 by aconventional machine bolt 61 extending through a passage 64 in the uppersection 31 of the leg 20. A ball 62 rigidly secured to the back of theplate 55 is seated in the socket member 60 is a well known manner todefine a universal joint. The vertical adjustment of the member 50 onthe leg 20 is facilitated by removing the machine bolt 61 and remountingthe socket member 60 on the upper section 31 of the leg 20 at one or theother of the vertically displaced passages 65 or 66, for example.

In actual use by a handicapped person, for example, as depicted inFIGURE 1, two crutches 11 are normally required. Each crutch 11 providessupport in substantially the same manner. In essence, the user 10 gripsthe handles 35 with corresponding hands and seats the tubular crossmembers 45 in his armpits. When the crutches 11 are brought inwardlytoward the torso 12 to a comfortable lateral angular relationshipbetween the users torso 12 and the crutches 11, the segmentallycylindrical members 50 engage the torso 12 of the user 10 in supportingrelationship. The members 50 adapt themselves to optimum supportingrelationship with the torso 12 by virtue of their universal mounting oncorresponding legs 20.

As the user 10 moves forwardly his torso 12 is virtually resting betweenthe opposed padded support members 50 in that it tends to be wedgedbetween them and a substantial vertical support component is introduced.In other words, the support members 50 assume a slightly outwardlyinclined relationship. In this regard, note that the limit of thisoutwardly inclined relationship is illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE3. The armpit supports 45 provide a substantially fixed base in thearmpits of the user 10 for levering the support members 20 tightlyagainst the torso 12 of the user 10 as he walks. The bulk of the weightof the user 10 is thus carried by the body support assemblies 21 andonly a minor portion of the load is carried by the arms 15 of the userthrough the hand grip as semblies 23.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of acrutch(es) 11 having universally mounted torso supporting members 50 forproviding fluid support of the users torso 12, it should be understoodthat under certain circumstances, such fluid support might not benecessary. A crutch which embodies all other features of the presentinvention but which is adapted for rigid support of the users torso isillustrated at 111 in FIGURES 5-7.

The crutch 111 comprises a leg fabricated of sturdy aluminum pipe stockin a manner similar to the construction of the crutch 11. A body supportassembly 121 is mounted on top of the leg 120 and provides supportaccording to the present invention. The body support assembly 121includes an armpit support and a torso support 141.

The armpit support 140 supports the user at the joinder of his arm 15and torso 12 while the torso support 41 provides direct support for thetorso 12. The armpit support 140 is fixed on the upper end of the leg120 of the crutch 111 while the torso support 141 is adjustable forvertical movement on the leg 120.

The armpit support 140 comprises a generally tubular pipe member 145preferably welded to the upper end of the leg 120. The pipe member 145is fabricated of aluminum pipe stock or the line and, in this instance,is not covered with a padding material. Similarly to the aforedescribedcrutch 11, the leading end 147 of the member 145 turns upwardly andinwardly while the trailing end 148 merely curves upwardly. Angularbraces 149 between the leg 121) of the crutch 111 and the leading andtrailing ends 147 and 148 thereof. The braces 149 are also fabricated ofaluminum pipe stock or the like and might be welded to the leg 120 andthe leading and trailing ends 147 and 148 of the member 145.

The torso support 141 includes a segmentally cylindrical member 150mounted in outwardly inclined relationship on the leg 124i below thearmpit support 140 for vertical adjustment on the leg 120. Verticaladjustment of the segmentally cyclindrical member 150 adjusts the crutch111 to the length and configuration of the torso 12. The segmentallycylindrical member 150 comprises a plate fabricated of a sturdy aluminumalloy or the like. The corners 156 of the plate are rounded to preventthe user from being injured by sharp projection.

The member 150 is connected to the leg 120 for vertical adjustmentrelative to the leg 120, as best seen in FIG. 6, by a mounting unit 159.The mounting unit 159 includes a mounting member 160 rigidly secured tothe inside of the leg 126 by a conventional machine bolt 161 extendingthrough the passage 164 in the leg 120. The member 150 is preferablywelded to the mounting member 160.

Vertical adjustment of the segmentally cylindrical member 150 iseffected by removing the machine bolt 161 and remounting member 160 onthe leg 120 at one of the vertically displaced passages 165 or 166through the leg 120.

It will now readily be understood that clutch constructions have beenillustrated which are capable of supporting a handicapped persons framecomfortably at all times. The person can readily move about on crutches11 or 111 embodying features of the present invention with minimaleffort, obtaining maximum torso support. The crutches 11 and 111 areadjustable to the frame of the user to assure positive supportregardless of the size and configuration of the torso 12 of the user.

It will be further understood that in one aspect of the presentinvention fluid support of the torso 12 is assured. This facilitatesrelative movement of the crutches 11 and a handicapped persons torso 12,as he walks, assuring maximum support at all times.

The crutches embodying features of the present inven-/ tion providesupport for the user in a relatively more comfortable manner thanheretofore thought possible with the conventional crutch constructions.Collateral to this minimal drain on the users energy is caused by use ofthese crutches 11 and 111.

While an embodiment described herein is at present considered to bepreferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvementsmay be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claimsall such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An improved crutch construction comprising; elongated leg means,means on the lower end of said leg means for engaging a supportingsurface, body support means adjacent the upper end of said leg means,and hand grip means between said body support means and said surfaceengaging means, said body support means including armpit support meansfor seating in the armpit of a user, and torso support means disposedbetween said armpit support means and said hand grip means for engagingthe side of and supporting the torso of the user,

said torso support means including a support member formed substantiallyof rigid material and having a support surface curved about an axis toconform generally to the side of the user, said support surface of saidsup port member being inclined outwardly and upwardly when the crutchconstruction is arranged for use whereby support is provided the user bysaid torso support means.

2. The crutch construction of claim 1 further characterized in that saidarmpit support means includes an elongated member extendingsubstantially transversely of said leg means and having an upwardlycurved trailing end and an upwardly and inwardly curved leading end.

3. The crutch construction of claim 1 further characterized in that saidtorso support means includes -an arcuate member mounted for universalmovement and adapted to engage and provide fluid support for the torsoof the user.

4. The crutch construction of claim 1 further characterized in that saidtorso support means includes an arcuate member fixedly mounted withrespect to said supporting surface at a predetermined outwardinclination.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 130,283 8/72Darrach 49 321,867 7/85 Van Vleck 27270.4

923,556 6/09 Miller 27270.4 1,262,905 4/18 Anderson 135-52 1,307,0586/19 McGrath 13549 2,358,853 9/44 Dunnicliff 135-49 2,439,316 4/48Peacock 13547.5 2,696,826 12/54 Davies 13552 2,915,760 12/59 Bair 32FOREIGN PATENTS 663,247 12/51 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED CRUTCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING; ELONGATED LEG MEANS,MEANS ON THE LOWER END OF SAID LEG MEANS FOR ENGAGING A SUPPORTINGSURFACE, BODY SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID LEG MEANS,AND HAND GRIP MEANS BETWEEN SAID BODY SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID SURFACEENGAGING MEANS, SAID BODY SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING ARMPIT SUPPORT MEANSFOR SEATING IN THE ARMPIT OF A USER, AND TORSO SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSEDBETWEEN SAID ARMPIT SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID HAND GRIP MEANS FOR ENGAGINGTHE SIDE OF AND SUPPORTING THE TORSO OF THE USER,